Accommodation Process

Mesa Community College (MCC) Disability Resources and Services (DRS) handles each student's request on an individual basis, given a reasonable time frame. Please refer to the chart below when requesting a special service. Although the following time lines are preferred, MCC DRS strives to provide the services as quickly as possible.

Setting up meetings with professors in order to discuss specific needs regarding accommodations.

Managing the testing accommodation process by filling out the Test Schedule Request Form and following up to ensure alternative testing arrangements are in place

Managing the note taking process by working with your DRS Advisor and your professor; keeping in touch with DRS to ensure effective notes

Using the Adaptive Technology Lab for assistive technology software/hardware

Staying in contact with DRS Advisor regarding effectiveness of accommodations and status of academic success

Managing the Alternative Format process by enrolling in your classes early and making your requests in a timely manner

Accepting the invitation to the DRS Canvas site in order to receive updated communications

Testing Accommodations

It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements for testing accommodations by going to Disability Resources & Services and completing a Test Schedule Request Form. This form must be submitted at least two (2) business days prior to the test date. Authorized test accommodations may include extended testing time, reduced distraction environment, assistive technology, or alternative format. Testing accommodations must be authorized by a DRS Program Advisor and supported by required documentation.

In-Class Notetaking

It is the responsibility of the student to request an in-class note taker as needed per class. DRS pays in-class peers a stipend to take notes for the qualified student. It is the responsibility of the student to secure a note taker by working with the professor or making contact with a peer on their own. The DRs Program Advisor can help with this process.

Disability Resources & Services at Mesa Community College are Champions in empowering students to be good advocates and self reliant. We look to the future for promoting life-long learning skills. In an effort to support this model, the DRS Adaptive Lab has a Livescribe Smart Pen loaner program that we promote. The Smart Pen promotes good note taking and study skills while increasing the amount of lecture content the student takes home with them.

Alternative Format

It is the responsibility of the student to register early and to provide Disability Resources & Services their class schedule and, if possible, a course syllabus from the instructor. Students must purchase the textbook(s) and provide a copy of the "paid" receipt to DRS. Alternative format may include Braille, large print, PDF's, and other forms of electronic text or paper-based formats. Requests for Braille must be made at least 3 months in advance of the first day of class. Large print, PDF's, and other forms of electronic text or paper-based formats require at least 1 month in advance of the first day of class.

Interpreting/CART Services

It is the student’s responsibility to register early and request interpreting/cart services through the Interpreter Coordinator in order to facilitate the coordination of available qualified interpreters with the student's schedule. The student is required to fill out an Interpreter/Cart Request Form for each class. Interpreting requests require at least two (2) weeks’ notice in advance of the first day of class. Requests for individual events require at least one (1) week advance notice. Last minute requests within 48 hours may not be guaranteed services. The Interpreting Services Coordinator will email the student to notify them that their request has been received, and then will assign an interpreter for the request.

Upon receiving a CART request, the Interpreting Services Coordinator will contact the Adaptive Lab staff to prepare the CART equipment. The student will be notified by email when the equipment is ready and is responsible for picking it up from the Adaptive Lab. Demonstration/training is available on all equipment.

Classroom Assistants

It is the student’s responsibility to register early and request a classroom assistant accommodation through their DRS Advisor. Classroom assistants require at least two (2) weeks’ notice in advance of the first day of class. Your DRS Advisor will notify your professor(s) that you will have an assistant in class but you should discuss this personally with the professor as well.

Your classroom assistant's job is to ensure that you have access to all of the assignments and activities associated with the class. Do not ask your assistant to serve as a tutor, help you work through the substance of an assignment or participate in class discussions. If you have a concern or problem with your classroom assistant, contact your DRS Advisor.

Captioning

In most cases, Captioning requests will be initiated by the instructor based upon course content and student request. It is the student’s responsibility to register early with the Interpreter Coordinator in order to evaluate course content for captioning needs. DRS needs two (2) weeks advance notice for most formats.

Service Animals on Campus

Service animals are welcome on the Mesa Community College campus. Mesa Community College follows the Maricopa Governance District Policy Manual, which upholds the ADA’s definition of a service animal. This policy also asks that an individual requesting to bring a service-animal-in-training to campus will request permission from college administration before the animal is brought to campus. This request serves mainly to notify the college’s Public Safety Office.

In instances in which it is not obvious what service the animal provides, staff are permitted only limited inquiries about the service animal, to be communicated via the DRS. “Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.”

The DRS encourages students to get an INF that designates the need for the service animal, but this is not mandatory.

Reduced Course Load

A college Disability Resource Services (DRS) professional may certify that a student who is afforded a reduced academic load as an accommodation for a disability shall nevertheless be deemed a full-time student. Such certification shall be solely to enable the student to seek eligibility for health insurance benefits and to seek eligibility to comply with mandates of the National Junior College Athletic Association. The DRS Advisor will certify that a student may be deemed a full-time student as provided under this regulation only on a semester-by-semester basis.

Requests for a reduced course load accommodation must be submitted to the DRS Advisor with supporting documentation. Requests must be made prior to the beginning of each semester. Supporting documentation must include a diagnostic evaluation from an appropriate professional. The documentation must meet the guidelines set forth by the Maricopa Community College District’s Documentation Policy in order to evaluate the current impact of the disability in regards to the request. Students are required to request this accommodation every semester, but do not need to re-submit their documentation. Continuation of this status is not automatic.

Students who are approved for a reduced course load will be required to sign the Reduced Course Load Approval Form which includes a statement acknowledging that he or she has reviewed the consequences that go with reduced load status and accepts them.

Course Substitutions

The Course Substitution Policy For Students With Documented Disabilities explains that a disability “may preclude a student from demonstrating required math, reading and writing competencies or from completing course requirements necessary for an A.A., A.G.S. or A.A.S. degree or certificate programs in the same manner expected of non-disabled students.”

Most disabilities that might preclude a student from fulfilling these requirements can be overcome through accommodations and altering the methods of the course delivery. However, for some, these accommodations are still insufficient to enable them to complete the course: For those students, a course substitution may be individually considered under specific conditions, listed in the policy.

To apply for course substitution, a student must have either:

“attempted a required course and has discovered that receiving extra help or altering the means of delivery of that course is insufficient to enable him/her to complete the course”

or

“has sufficient documentation that he/she has a disability so severe to render any attempt at taking the course futile.”

At such point, the student may submit a petition to the ADA/504 coordinator of the college.

The student should then compile the documents listed on the Course Substitution Request Checklist. These must be submitted to the Legal Services Department, District Support Services Center, at least one week prior to the meeting with the council.

Mesa Community College provides outstanding transfer and career and technical programs, workforce development, and life-long learning opportunities to residents of the East Valley area of Phoenix, Arizona.